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I’ve been playing around with the idea of starting a self hosted blog for about two years now. However, for some reason or another, I’ve always managed to talk myself out of it. The excuses ranged from ‘It’s too expensive’ to ‘I already have a blog’. At the end of the day, the dream was constantly pushed aside.

Interestingly enough, I dubbed 2016 as my ‘YES’ year. I planned to say yes to just about anything that my heart decided on. The very first thing that came to mind was to start another blog, so I upped and did exactly that. I cannot tell you how proud I am of following up on my innermost desires. I bought a domain and www.jodigoesglobal.com was born.

So, it’s a lot of work ahead, but I have the entire year to work on it. Let’s see what sort of magic I can create over the next twelve months!

Visiting the world renowned archaeological site of Machu Picchu has long been on my ultimate wish list. I can’t even describe how thrilled I was when I boarded the 16 hour bus that would take me from Huacachina to Cusco, Peru. All I could think about, was that I should be wandering the famous premises in about 48 hours!

From the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, I boarded a collectivo (peruvian small van) which took me to the small mountain town of Ollantaytambo for $10 USD. The views from the bus window were stunningly beautiful, with landscapes ranging from rustic farm houses and fields, to the towering snow capped Andean mountain range. The air was super clean and crisp, seemingly untouched by pollution, and the sky was an amazing shade of blue.

After being dropped off in the main square, I hoisted my backpack on my shoulders and went about looking for an affordable place to stay. I severely underestimated the task of walking up and down cobbled streets at a seriously high altitude of 2792 metres above sea level.

Just when my lungs were about to burst, I stumbled upon a guesthouse called Full Moon Lodge. For $25 a night, I got a private room with a comfy bed, a nice bathroom and even internet connection! There were hammocks and dream-catchers everywhere and the family dogs were friendly and totally adorable! I freaking loved it.

Early the next morning (around 5am), I woke up, quickly got dressed and hustled to the train station to board the Expedition Train #81 to Machu Picchu. The cost of my round-trip ticket was $130, which was fairly expensive given the relatively short ride.

The train was punctual and interestingly decorated with lots of Andean artwork. A complimentary snack and a drink were served after our departure from Ollantaytambo. Basically, the journey took a little over an hour ,then we were pulling up at the train station in Aguas Caliente (also known as Machu Picchu Town). Aguas Caliente is your typical tourist town, so be prepared to overspend on just about everything.

The last leg to the archaeological site was by a coaster bus which I boarded at the bus terminal for $18.50 USD roundtrip. The road up the mountain was narrow and extremely winding. We were surrounded by dense forest for the entire time, as we climbed our way further and further upwards. There were a LOT of Chinese tourists on my bus, who were fascinated with taking countless snaps of the passing bush. (I didn’t get it!)

Finally!!! I arrived onsite! At this point, I was simply too tired to be adequately excited. I joined a lengthy queue of visitors waiting to enter the grounds, and took the opportunity to give my passport an official Machu Picchu Stamp. I think that’s when it really sank in. I was here!

Unexpectedly, I will be leaving on another trip around the world in just over 2 weeks. I have been dreaming, planning and socking away all my spare cash for a while now, but I had no clue about when I would get the chance to leave. Well, my bosses approved a long paid vacation, so I am scrambling about like a headless chicken.. trying to plan a basic itinerary, cramming in-depth research into my possible destinations, and tackling an ever increasing To Do list.

In spite of all this activity, I must admit that all of the fear and trepidation which I experienced the first time around are practically non-existent. I can’t tell if it’s due to the short amount of time before I depart, or my subconscious recognizes that I’ve backpacked solo before, and sees no reason to freak out. Whatever it is, I’m grateful, because a panic attack is the very last thing I need to deal with right now.

I booked my first flight a few days ago… from Antigua to Ecuador! This will be my first time stepping foot on the mainland continent of South America. From there I plan to cross the border into Peru, then I will figure out the rest from there. Here’s to hoping that you’ll come along for the journey. I will post more info over the next few days, as I wrap up my preparations. Any tips or suggestions on where I should go are welcomed!